This task is an initiative led by the Circle for Democratic Solidarity to support the Truthing Project. By participating in this task, you will help document the stories of children affected by the residential school system. This effort is essential in assisting the survivors' committee in understanding which children died, when and how, and if they survived the school. Such information is crucial for identifying graves and ensuring every child's story is acknowledged and remembered.

Your dedication to this task helps honour and remember the children affected by the residential school system. By documenting these details, we can ensure the children are not forgotten and aid in identifying graves, providing closure to families and communities.

To begin, choose a child's name from our provided list. To access the list, please email ben@democraticsolidarity.net Once you have a name, your next step is to research it onAncestry.ca using the login details provided in the volunteer package.

While conducting your research, focus on gathering the following details:

1. Student's name and background

   • Student’s last name

   • First name

   • Year of birth

   • Indigenous community

2. Ancestry records

   • Any records in Ancestry.ca that appear to match this student

   • Alternative spellings of the student’s name

3. Living locations and family details

   • Other locations the student might have lived in

   • Names of the parents

   • Names of any siblings

4. Death and burial information

5. Documentation and online references

   • Document(s) found

   • Google search results and URLs

After collecting the necessary details, please input them into this Google form. Accurate and thorough documentation will significantly aid the survivors' committee in their efforts to honour and remember the children affected by the residential school system, ensuring they are not forgotten and helping to provide closure to their families and communities.

Note: As you carry out this task, please handle all information with the utmost care and confidentiality, adhering to the principles of Indigenous data sovereignty. The stories and data you uncover are sensitive and personal. It is important to ensure the accuracy of the information you find and thoroughly document it, cross-checking details to confirm their validity. If you encounter any difficulties or need assistance, do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to support you throughout this process.

The Nisoonag Partnership would like to create a museum showing the truth of what life was like at the Spanish Residential Schools.

As a first step, they are assembling an online archive of all documents, photos and film or video recordings.

To support them in this task, Remembering Project volunteers are asked to:

1) Collect all documents, photos and videos of the school to organize and select what to upload

2) Tag student names in this content to assist in building the search capability of the website

3) Generate textual descriptions to label the content for web publication

4) Advise on the organization and formatting of the online archive

5) If technical skills permit, upload content and prepare for review by survivors

6) Meet with survivors to present the work, solicit feedback and incorporate changes

One of the tasks non-Indigenous civil society should take initiative on is addressing denialism, particularly in online spaces like social media. For this task, we ask that you follow these principles and steps to ensure that your responses are respectful, informative, and supportive of survivors:

1. Identify a denialist comment that denies or minimizes the harms of the residential school system.

2. Before responding, take a moment to reflect on the situation. Approach the comment with care and consideration, recognizing the sensitive nature of the topic.

3. Always respond with respect and empathy. Begin by acknowledging the other person’s perspective, even if you disagree. This helps to create a respectful tone and opens the door for constructive dialogue.

4. Use reliable sources and verified evidence to provide accurate information. Counter denialist claims with facts from credible reports, research, or survivor testimonies.

5. Keep your response calm and composed, avoiding any anger or frustration. A measured tone can help de-escalate the conversation and make it more productive.

6. View each response as an opportunity to educate and inform both the commenter and others who may read the exchange. Provide context, explain the significance of the issue, and share additional resources (such as the NCTR website).

7. Ensure that your responses validate and support the experiences of residential school survivors. Avoid language that could be seen as dismissive or invalidating their stories.

8. Identify and highlight common values or identities, such as a shared Canadian identity, to foster a connection with the other person. This can reduce defensiveness and create a more open space for dialogue.

9. Suggest resources or actions the person can take to learn more about the issue, such as reading the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s reports. This can help shift the conversation from denial to understanding.

10. If the conversation becomes unproductive or hostile, it is better to disengage. Leave a respectful comment that others can learn from and consider stepping back from the discussion.

By following these principles and steps, you can contribute to a respectful, fact-based dialogue that supports survivors and promotes understanding of the legacy of the residential school system. For more information on how to respond to denialism, read our response protocol here. For more guidance contact our Convenor, at ben@democraticsolidarity.net

This guide is for volunteers accompanying the Nisoonag Partnership to visit the Jesuit archives in Montreal. The primary role of volunteers will be to assist with understanding, transcribing, and translating French documents. Your help will be crucial in assessing the scope of work involved, and determining if additional volunteer support is needed. If you haven’t already, sign up here.

1. Before the visit

• Ensure your French language skills are adequate for reading historical documents, which may include older French and abbreviations.

• Research the types of documents and materials held by the Jesuit archives to better understand the context and content you may encounter.

• Review the objectives of the Nisoonag Partnership’s visit to understand the importance of the documents and how they fit into the broader project.

2. During the archive visit

1. Work closely with the Nisoonag Partnership team, following their lead and directions.

2. Help identify and prioritize key documents that may require transcription or translation.

3. Carefully examine documents for content that might be relevant to the project.

4. Take note of any documents that might need a professional or more extensive translation.

5. Begin transcribing legible documents that are straightforward.

6. Provide on-the-spot translations where possible, but ensure accuracy over speed.

7. Help estimate the time and resources needed for transcribing and translating the documents based on their quantity, condition, and complexity.

8. Report your findings to ben@democraticsolidarity.net to assess whether additional volunteers or resources are needed for the task.

   Note: Keep a log of all documents reviewed, transcribed, and translated, noting any difficulties encountered or items needing further attention.

3. After the visit

• Compile a brief report summarizing your findings, including any challenges faced, the amount of work left, and recommendations for the next steps.

• If additional volunteers are needed, suggest specific areas where their help would be most valuable.

• If required, assist with ongoing transcription and translation efforts remotely.

• Stay in communication with the Nisoonag Partnership to provide updates and receive further instructions.

By following this guide, your contribution will be vital in helping the Nisoonag Partnership make significant progress in their work at the Jesuit archives. Your role is not just about translating words but also about understanding the historical and cultural significance behind these documents.